After owning two successful pizza restaurants, Zach Chaves decided it was time to go back to his roots.

So, Chaves, a Framingham resident originally from Brazil, opened Extravaganza Pizza and Bar, a Brazilian-American, family-oriented restaurant.

The need for a change first arose in 2008 when Chaves began to feel the strain of the recession on his pizzeria, Superior Pie in Framingham. He needed to do something to save his restaurant.

"We had to make a decision, and what I decided was to start serving Brazilian food," Chaves said. "Because I'm Brazilian and the pizza shop (was) in Framingham... it was almost a no-brainer to turn it into something more Brazilian." Framingham has a large Brazilian population.

The success of the Brazilian items, and lack of popularity of many of the Italian items, spawned an idea that morphed into the Extravaganza Pizza and Bar.

More changes came with the new eatery, including larger seating capacity and an liquor license. While Superior Pie had seating for only 16 people, Extravaganza Pizza and Bar seats 60. The liquor license, meanwhile, allows the restaurant to serve beer and wine, a selling point his last business lacked.

"I want people to be able to sit down, relax and enjoy the food," Chaves said. "Who doesn’t like to go out, eat some good food and have a glass of wine?" Chaves also said the restaurant is starting to sell South American wines and popular Brazilian beers, as they pair well with the type of food he serves.

Since the opening of his restaurant in April, Chaves has seen sales increase by 40 percent compared to those at Superior Pie.

"We are set up just like any American restaurant is set up," said Chaves, who credits this decision for some of the restaurant’s immediate success. Most Brazilian restaurants are set up buffet style, but Chaves makes sure all of his "food is prepared per order" and not resting in containers.

Although the set-up has helped, the fresh ingredients are what really make the difference, said Chaves.

"If you find a freezer in my building, you can have the keys," Chaves joked, as all of his ingredients are fresh, making a freezer unnecessary. The food is delivered from local vendors up to five times a week, depending on demand.

Chaves also recognizes the major role that his mother has played at his new restaurant.

"One of my secrets is I have my mother with me," Chaves said. He and his mother, Cleuza Chaves, go in every morning to prepare the food for the day. "I have someone I can trust to do the seasonings. She's one of the reasons why we're doing well."

Chaves is no stranger to the restaurant biz; he opened his first business, Top Speed Pizza, in Somerville in 2003. Top Speed Pizza became the busiest pizza restaurant in the area, said Chaves, but he didn’t like being away from his home in Framingham so he sold the business in 2007 and opened Superior Pie.

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Since returning to Framingham, where he moved to from Brazil about 17 years ago, Chaves has continued to prosper and set an example.

"Brazilians are becoming business owners here and investing their money here," Chaves said. "I'm working to help this country succeed."

Some popular dishes that Chaves serves at his restaurant are the Extravaganza Pizza, which was also a top-seller at Superior Pie, and Brazilian grilled picanha. The Extravaganza Pizza comes with tomato sauce, chicken, bacon, calabresa (a Brazilian sausage), ham, corn, onion, pepper, hearts of palm, green olives, mozzarella and oregano. A small costs $11.99, a large is $21.99. The Brazilian grilled picanha is a tender steak served with rice, tropeiro beans, tomato relish, salpicao (a type of Brazilian chicken salad) and fresh fries. Not a typo. Since there's no freezer, these fries are cut right from the potato in the kitchen, hence the fresh label. If you’re in the mood to share, this dinner for two costs $21.99, or you can order for one at $14.99.

Although Chaves enjoyed his pizzerias, he believes running a restaurant like Extravaganza Pizza and Bar, with its expanded offerings and Brazilian dishes, is what he was meant to be doing. "I feel like I did well at the pizza industry, but now I'm coming back to where I belong," he said. "This is a dream come true."

Extravaganza Pizza and Bar is at 47 Beacon St. in Framingham. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. For more information, visit www.ebapizza.com.